Fire nozzle holder



9% 1954 J. J. MALONEY 2,692,719

FIRE NOZZLE HOLDER Filed Mayl, 1952 2 Sheetjs-Sheet 1 Fig.

J. J. MALONEY FIRE NOZZLE HOLDER Oct. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 1, 1952 James J. Mala/lay INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE FIRE NOZZLE HOLDER-James J. Maloney, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application May 1, 1952, Serial No. 285,444

1 Claim.

This invention relates in general to holders, and more specifically toholders for adjustably securing fire nozzles to the upper ends ofladders.

In the fighting of fires in the upper stories of buildings with fireequipment that does not include a water tower, it is necessary to attacha fire hose to a hook and ladder aerial truck ladder with the firenozzle mounted at the upper end of the ladder in order that stream ofwater may be directed directly onto the fire. In the past there has beenprovided means for supporting a fire nozzle from a ladder at the upperend thereof, but the devices normally provided for such purpose havebeen cumbersome and bulky whereby they require two or more men and thefire hose cannot be put into operation in a very short time.Furthermore, the devices for attaching a fire nozzle to the upper end ofa ladder in the past have not provided ease of manipulation of thenozzle in order to vary the direction of the stream of water. It is,therefore, desirable to have a simple fire. nozzle holder which may bequickly and easily attached to a ladder adjacent the upper end thereof.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a fire nozzle holderwhich may be utilized for securing a fire nozzle adjacent the upper endthereof whereby the stream of water from the fire nozzle may beconveniently directed from the ground.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved fire nozzleholder which may be quickly attached and detached from a ladder andhaving means thereon whereby a fire nozzle may be quickly securedthereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved fire nozzleholder which is light and compact in construction whereby it may bequickly attached to the upper end of a ladder by one man.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved fire nozzleholder which if relatively simple and compact construction, and whichhas its support means foldable whereby it may be easily stored.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved fire nozzleholder which may be removably secured to the upper end of a ladder andwhich permits the pivoting of a fire nozzle in a vertical plane, saidfire nozzle being pivotal from either the ground or by a firemanstanding on the ladder.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination andarrangement. of ele- 2ments and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claim, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis application and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of a ladder ofa hook and ladder aerial truck, the ladder having attached thereto theupper end of a hose including a fire nozzle which is supported on theladder by the improved fire nozzle holder which is the subject of thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the ladder of Figure l and shows therelationship of the fire nozzle holder and the fire nozzle with respectto the upper end of the ladder, an adjusted position of the ladder beingshown in dotted lines in order to illustrate the manner in which thedirection of the fire nozzle may be changed by rotating the ladder;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the fire nozzle holder of Figure 2 andshows the bracing means therefor, the ladder being shown in dotted linesin order to clearly illustrate the structure of the fire nozzle holder;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the upper end of the ladder ofFigure 1 and shows the relationship of the adjustable means forsupporting the forward end of the fire nozzle holder;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main portions of the fire nozzleholder, which is the subject of this invention, and shows primarily theconstruction of catch means at the rear end of support arms forreleasably engaging a ladder rung, one of the catch means being shownsecured to a larger rung than the other catch means;

Figure 6 is a partial longitudinal vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 56 of Figure5 and shows the manner in which support arms are pivotally secured tothe underside of a nozzle supporting base;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the rear portion of one of thesupport arms and shows a modified form of catch means; and

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of one of the support arms and showsthe same provided with still another modified form of catch means.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements,and portions throughout the specification and throughout the differentviews of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in Figure 5 a major portion of the fire nozzle holder, whichis the subject of this invention, the fire nozzle holder including anelongated fire nozzle supporting base Ii] which is preferably formed ofa light weight metal such as aluminum although other rigid materials maybe utilized. Pivotally secured to the underside of the nozzle supportingbase I2 at the forward end thereof by a vertically extending fastener I2'are a pair of support arms I4. The support arms I4 normally divergerearwardly and are provided at their rear ends with spring urged catchmeans, which are referred to in general by the reference numeral I6 forreleasably and pivotally engaging a ladder rung. The support arms I4 arefurther connected to the nozzle supporting base Ill intermediate theirends by flexible straps III which limit the divergence of the supportarms I4.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that there isillustrated the upper end of a ladder, which is. referred to in generalby reference numeral which is the upper portion of an extensible ladderof a hook and ladder aerial truck. The ladder 20 includes a pair ofspaced, substantially parallel side rails 22 connected together atspaced intervals by transversely extending rungs. The rungs include anuppermost rung 24 and a next adjacent lower rung 26 to which the firenozzle holder, which is the subject of this invention, is attached.However, it will be understood that the fire nozzle holder be attachedto any other two rungs of the ladder 20. When it is desired to securethe fire nozzle holder on the ladder 20, the catch means IE5 at the rearends of the support arms I4 are snapped over the rung 26 and the rearportion of the nozzle supporting base In overlies the rung 26 and issupported thereby. Referring to Figure 5 in particular, it will be seenthat the spring urged catch means I6 includes a housing 28 which isprovided with a downwardly open C-shaped jaw 30 in which the rung 26 isadapted to be positioned. Extending partially into the C-shaped jaw 30is a triangular locking element 32 which is pivotally connected at oneend within the housing 28 by a transverse pivot pin 34. The lockingelement 32 is relatively narrow in width and movable through anelongated slot 36 in the upper face of the housing 28 whereby the rung26 may be engaged within the C-shaped jaw 30 by moving the clamp meansI5 downwardly thereover and urging the triangular locking element 52upwardly through its associated slot 36. After the rung 26 has beendisposed within the C-shape'd jaw 39, the locking element 32 is urgeddownwardly by a spring 38 carried by the housing 28 and prevents therung 26 from being removed from the C-shaped jaw 30. The underside ofthe triangular locking element 32 is provided with a recess 40 which maybe engaged with a finger for lifting the same in order to remove therung 26 from the jaw 30. It will be noted that the construction of thecatch means I6 is such that the rung 26 may be quickly and easilyengaged therewith and at the same time provides a secure connectionbetween its associated support arm I4 and the rung 26, said connectionpermitting the pivoting of the support arm I4 with respect to the rung26.

After the spring urged catch means I 5 have been connected to the rung26, the pivotal connection therebetween permits the support arms I4 andthe nozzle supporting base I!) to pivot with the result that the nozzlesupporting base It may be adjustably positioned in a vertical plane. 7

In order that the nozzle supporting base I0 may be retained in itsadjusted position, the forward end thereof is supported by one end of aflexible member 42 which is entrained over a pulley 44 and extendsdownwardly therefrom. As is best illustrated in Figure 4, the pulley 44is pivotally connected to a support bracket 45 carried by the upper rung24. The flexible member 42 extends downwardly substantially to theground and has an intermediate portion thereof connected to a suitablefastening means (not shown) on the body of the hook and ladder aerialtruck from which the ladder 20 extends. The flexible member 42 thenextends upwardly and its other end is connected to a ring 48 secured tothe under side of the nozzle supporting base I0 by a fas tener 50.

When it is desired to secure a fire nozzle, such as the fire nozzle 52,to the ladder 22 by the fire nozzle holder, the fire nozzle 52 ispositioned on the nozzle supporting base I0 in the manner indicated inFigure l. The nozzle supporting base I 0 is provided with longitudinallyspaced pairs of slots 54 therethrough in which intermediate portions ofstraps 56, 58 and 6B are disposed, the strap 56 being at the forward endof the nozzle supporting base II) and the strap 60 being at the rear endthereof with the strap 58 positioned intermediate the straps 56 and GIIt will be noted that the diameter of the straps vary with the forwardstrap 58 being the smallest and clamping the tapered forward end of thenozzle 52 to the nozzle supporting base III. The strap 58 clamps anintermediate portion of the fire nozzle 52 to the nozzle supporting baseand the rear strap 62 holds the rear end of the fire nozzle 52 down byclamping a hose 62 associated with the fire nozzle 52 to the nozzlesupporting base In adajcent its connection to the fire nozzle 52.

Referring now to Figure 5 particularly, it will be seen that the sideedges of the nozzle supporting base It are provided adjacent the forwardend thereof with a pair of opposite notches I34 in which are receivedportions of a loop 66 formed in the end of the fiexible member 42secured to the nozzle supporting has In and extending downwardly fromthe pulley 34.

Referring now to Figure '7 in particular, it will be seen that a supportarm H4 is provided at the rear end thereof witha modified form of springurged clamp means, which is referred to in general by the referencenumeral H6. The catch means I I6 includes a housing II8 having arearwardly open transversely extending U- shaped cross sectional jaw I20which is closed by a vertically extending pin I22, the pin I22 beingadapted to trap a ladder rung within the jaw I20. The pin I22 extendsupwardly through the housing I I8 and is provided at its upper end witha knob I24 which may be grasped for moving the pin I22 vertically.Secured tothe upper face of the housing H8 is a sleeve I26 through whichthe intermediate portion of the pin I22 passes, said sleeve I26 havingmounted therein a coil spring I28 carried by the pin I22 for urging thepin I22 into its jaw closing position. It will be understood that aladder rung is inserted within the jaw I20 by raising the pin I 22 andmoving the clamp means II6 rearwardly thereover, after which the pin I22is released.

Referring now to Figure 8 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated still another modified form of the spring urged clamp means,

which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 210 and issecured at the rear end of a support arm 2M. The catch means 215includes a housing 218 which is provided with a transversely extendinghorizontally disposed J-shaped cross sectional jaw 220 which includes arung receiving opening 222. The rung receiving opening 222 is normallyclosed by a spring finger 224 carried by the housing 218 and adapted tobe moved upwardly out of the opening and closing position by movementdownwardly of the catch means 2H5 over a ladder rung. It will beunderstood that the size of the jaw of the catch means 218 together withthe jaws of the catch means it and H8 may be varied for receiving ladderrungs of different diameters.

Inasmuch as the various elements supporting the fire nozzle holder,which is the subject of this invention, may be easily and quicklysnapped onto rungs of the ladder 20, it will be seen that the ladder 20may be quickly equipped with a fire hose in order that a conventionalhook and ladder aerial truck may function as water tower. The stream ofWater from a nozzle positioned at the upper end of the ladder it may bedirected transversely and laterally by the movement of the aerial truckto which the ladder 20 is attached, and vertically through the use ofthe flexible member 42. When it is desired to change the angle or thestream of water vertically, the nozzle supporting base in is pivotedabout the rung 26 by either pulling the flexible member 42 over thepulley M to raise the forward end of the nozzle supporting base or bypulling directly downwardly on the other end of the flexible member 42to urge the forward end of the nozzle supporting base If! downwardly.

While the mounting bracket 46 for the pulley 44' has been illustrated asbeing attached to the rung 24 and secured thereto by a screw 64, it willbe understood that catch means similar to the catch means carried by thesupport arms l4 may be utilized in order to facilitate the engagement ofthe supporting bracket 46 on the rung 24. Also, although the fire nozzle52 has been illustrated of the type having a control lever 66 mountedthereon, it will be understood that any type of fire nozzle, includingplain straight nozzles, spray nozzles, foam nozzles etc. may besupported by the fire nozzle holder, which is the subject of thisinvention.

When the fire nozzle holder is mounted on the ladder 20, it will benoted that the support arms [4 diverge from their pivot point and thattheir associated catch means are in engagement with the inner surfacesof the side rails 22 of the ladder. However it will be understood thatwhen the fire nozzle holder is not mounted on the 6 ladder 20, thesupport arms I4 may be pivoted inwardly in overlying relation withrespect to the nozzle supporting base I0 to form a compact arrangementfor storage purposes.

The operation of the device will be understood from the foregoingdescription of the details thereof, taken in connection with the aboverecited objects and the drawings. Further description would appear to beunnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from theembodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resortedto Without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, asdefined in the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In combination with a ladder having vertically spaced rungs, a portablesupport for a fire nozzle comprising a narrow elongated supporting base,rearwardly extending support arms carried by said supporting base nozzlehold down means carried by said supporting base, spring urged catchmeans at the rear ends of said support arms pivotally connecting saidsupport arms to one of said rungs, said supporting base having a rearportion thereof extending rearwardly of said support arms, the rearportion of said supporting base resting on said one ladder rung wherebydownwardly directed forces imposed on said supporting base are directlytransmitted to said one ladder rung, said nozzle hold down meansincluding a plurality of adjustable straps spaced longitudinally alongsaid supporting base for releasably holding a nozzle and an upper end ofan associate hose relative to said supporting base, means carried bysaid ladder and connected to said supporting base remote from said onerung for remotely controlling pivoting of said supporting base aboutsaid one rung and retaining said supporting base in an adjusted verticalposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 35,601 Fobes et a1. June 1'7, 1862 127,347 I-Iotchkiss May 28,1872 176,388 Washburne et a1. Apr. 18, 1876 284,547 Furey Sept. 4, 1883517,320 Alexander Mar. 27, 1894 689,390 Ewing Dec. 24, 1901 1,215,281Jones Feb. 6, 1917 1,583,772 Blaw May 11, 1926 1,760,803 Wirth May 27,1930 2,000,483 Hogelin May 7, 1935 2,488,984 Pennington Nov. 22, 19492,588,842 I-Iutt Mar. 11, 1952

